Taft man pleads no contest to two counts of child molesting

Saturday

Apr 5, 2014 at 5:25 PM

Roman will be sentenced on April 21 for crime against two young children

A Taft man charged in connection with the molestation of a young brother and sister in Taft Heights will be sentenced on April 21 after he entered no contest pleas in Kern County Superior Court to two counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child.

Ernesto Roman, 45, was arrested in Fresno by the Kern County Sheriff's Special Operations Group on January 21, 11 days after the mother of the two victim's allegedly caught him in the act of molesting the children, an eight-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy.

Roman had been a guest of the family for some time. He fled after being confronted and was tracked down nearly two weeks later.

Roman had faced five other counts, including two felonies and three misdemeanors, that were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Roman now faces a state prison term and will be required to register as a sex offender.Bail for the charges has been set at $100,000 but Roman is also being held on a no-bail immigration hold by federal authorities.